Download lightbox and place the lightbox directory inside /themes/theme-name/common/ directory.
now open the /themes/theme-name/common/header.php in an editor and add the following code before

<!-- Start Lightbox includes -->
<link rel="stylesheet" media="screen" href="<?php echo WEB_ROOT;?>/themes/theme-name/common/lightbox/css/lightbox.css" />
<script type="text/javascript" src="<?php echo WEB_ROOT;?>/themes/theme-name/common/lightbox/js/prototype.js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="<?php echo WEB_ROOT;?>/themes/theme-name/common/lightbox/js/scriptaculous.js?load=effects,builder"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="<?php echo WEB_ROOT;?>/themes/theme-name/common/lightbox/js/lightbox.js"></script>
<!-- End Lightbox includes -->

Now the ground work is done and it’s time to add the lightbox functionality to the item show page. Open the Now Show.php page located in /themes/theme-name/items/ and replace the following code

<!-- The following returns all of the files associated with an item. -->
<div id="itemfiles" class="element">
	<h3>Files</h3>
	<div class="element-text"><?php echo display_files_for_item(); ?></div>
</div>

with the code below

<!-- The following returns all of the files associated with an item. -->
<div id="itemfiles" class="side-element">
	<h3>Files</h3>
	<div class="element-img">
		<!-- Create the image thumbnail with a Lightbox link -->
		<?php
		$item = get_current_item();
		$files = $item->getFiles();
		foreach($files as $file) {
			echo '<a href="' . file_download_uri($file) . '"rel="lightbox" title="'.item('Dublin Core', 'Title').'" class="download-file">';
			echo item_thumbnail();
			echo '</a>';
		}
		?>
	</div>
</div>

I developed this code to an Omeka system which is been used exclusivly for images, but if you have other artifacts such as PDFs then place a simple check like given below.

<!-- The following returns all of the files associated with an item. -->
<div id="itemfiles" class="side-element">
	<h3>Files</h3>
	<div class="element-img">
		<!-- Create the image thumbnail with a Lightbox link -->
		<?php
		if (item_has_thumbnail()) {
			$item = get_current_item();
			$files = $item->getFiles();
			foreach($files as $file) {
				echo '<a href="' . file_download_uri($file) . '"rel="lightbox" title="'.item('Dublin Core', 'Title').'" class="download-file">';
				echo item_thumbnail();
				echo '</a>';
			}
		}
		else{
			echo display_files_for_item();
		}
		?>
	</div>
</div>

Now test it out and see. If the loading image and close button is not appering it might be due to relative path in lightbox not working. To fix it open the /themes/theme-name/common/lightbox/js/lightbox.js and locate the following piece of code around line 50.

fileLoadingImage:        'images/loading.gif',
fileBottomNavCloseImage: 'images/closelabel.gif',

Now replace it with the following.

fileLoadingImage:        '/omeka/themes/theme-name/common/lightbox/images/loading.gif',
fileBottomNavCloseImage: '/omeka/themes/theme-name/common/lightbox/images/closelabel.gif',

I tested this code with Omeka 1.1 and Lightbox 2.04

We enjoy pointing our readers in the direction of cool software, web sites, and other various tips, but what we really love is writing up detailed how-to guides that walk you step-by-step through how to actually do something. Let’s take a closer look at the most popular how-to Lifehacker features of 2008:

Turn Your iPod Touch into an iPhone

iPod touch owners looking to get iPhone calling functionality out of their devices flocked to this guide for turning your iPod touch into an iPhone. It’s the kind of thing that could make you decide to forget the iPhone altogether and go with an iPod touch.

Turn Your Point-and-Shoot into a Super-Camera

If you’re using a consumer grade point-and-shoot Canon digital camera, you’ve got hardware in hand that can support advanced features way beyond what shipped in the box. With the help of a free, open source project called CHDK, you can get features like RAW shooting mode, live RGB histograms, motion-detection, time-lapse, and even games on your existing camera.

Turn Your $60 Router into a User-Friendly Super-Router with Tomato

Tomato is an open-source router firmware that adds advanced functionality to your old $60 router. What’s not to love? It’s free, it will often work on the router you already own, and it’s easy to use. For an alternative, check out how we turned your $60 router into a $600 router with DD-WRT even further back.

Jailbreak iPhone 2.0 with PwnageTool

When the iPhone and iPod touch 2.0 software update hit devices this summer, users were thrilled that they could enjoy Apple-approved third-party apps on their hardware—but that doesn't mean they don't want to have their cake and eat it, too. Our guide to jailbreaking your iPhone running 2.0 software walks you through how to jailbreak your device and install unsanctioned third-party apps worth jailbreaking for.

Jailbreak Any iPhone or iPod Touch in 45 Seconds

Before the release of the iPhone 2.0 software update and the PwnageTool, you still had your jailbreak needs. This guide walked you through how to jailbreak any pre-2.0 iPhone or iPod touch in a mere 45 seconds.

Slipstream Service Pack 3 into Your Windows XP Installation CD

When you wipe your PC’s hard drive clean and reinstall Windows with that old installation disc, you don’t want to connect your fresh, unpatched and vulnerable system to the internet only to download 176 new updates from Microsoft. This guide showed you how to slipstream the latest Windows Service Pack 3 into your XP install disc so your fresh installation of Windows is also sporting the latest and greatest updates from Microsoft.

Trim Down Windows to the Bare Essentials

When you’re installing Windows in a virtual machine or on old, slow hardware, you want the leanest, meanest and fastest-running configuration possible. This how-to guide walks you through how to create a slim, trim, and lightning fast version of Windows.

Get Vista’s Best Features in XP

Got a lust for Vista goodies but not for—well, the rest of Vista? This walkthrough will show you how to get Vista’s best features in XP.

Hack Your Wii for Homebrew Apps and DVD Playback

Despite the fact that it ships with a DVD drive, for whatever godforsaken reason, the Nintendo Wii doesn’t support DVD playback. Not only will be be playing back DVDs after following this guide, but you’ll also be able to run other homebrew applications, games, and even play burned backups—all without any hardware hacking or modchips.

Turn Your PC into a DVD Ripping Monster

Commercial DVDs are far too expensive to let scratches turn your video into a glorified coaster, but most people still don’t back up their DVD collection. After following this guide, the ease with which you can rip full DVD backups to your hard drive will leave you with no excuse not to.

Protect Your Privacy When Downloading

Whether you’re downloading copyrighted material or not, no one likes to have their activities online monitored. This guide details how to protect your privacy online.

Set Up Push Email, Contacts, and Calendar on Your iPhone for Free

If you don’t feel like shelling out $100 a year to get push email, contacts, and calendar on your iPhone, you can still get it all on your own. You just need to know how.

How to Recover Deleted Files with Free Software

We’ve all been there at some point: You delete an important file, somehow it skips your Recycle Bin altogether, and for all practical purposes, it’s disappeared into the ether. Before you hit the big red panic button, this guide will walk you through how to recover deleted files from your hard drive with free software.

Run Windows Apps Seamlessly Inside Linux

You may love the Linux life, but there are those annoying times when—for whatever reason—it'd be nice to fire up a Windows app. With a little know-how, you can run Windows apps seamlessly inside Linux.

Master Your Digital Media with VLC

VLC is far and away the most popular desktop media player among Lifehacker readers, and for good reason. Not only does VLC play nearly any file you throw at it, but it can also rip DVDs, convert videos for your iPod or iPhone, and much more. Photo by R’eyes.

Copy Music from Your iPhone or iPod to Your Computer for Free

You may not need to do it every day, but it seems like everyone needs to pull music from an iPod or iPhone to their computer at some time or another. This handy little guide details how to copy music from your iPhone or iPod to your computer for free.

Got a favorite Lifehacker guide on or off this list that we covered in ’08? Let’s hear about it in the comments.

We’ve tackled a whopping 26 Hive Five categories since the series’ inception, and I’m just going to tackle them all from oldest to newest. Without further ado, here they are.

Best Digital Photo Organizer: Picasa (Windows/Linux)

Readers love Picasa—the cross-platform photo management software from Google—for its ease-of-use and impressive feature set, which is particularly strong for free software. Gmail integration, simple editing tools, and Picasa Web Albums have also helped users quickly tweak and share their photo libraries with friends and family online. See more on how to organize your digital photos with Picasa. (See the Hive Five Best Digital Photo Organizers for more options.)

Best Instant Messenger: Pidgin (Windows/Linux)

Formerly known as Gaim, Pidgin is a cross-platform, open-source IM client with a huge following on both Windows and Linux platforms, estimating over 3 million users in 2007. Much like Firefox, Pidgin is open and extensible, meaning you can add your own improved functionality and tools to Pidgin by simply installing a plug-in (like one of these 10 must-have Pidgin plug-ins.) (See the Hive Five Best Instant Messengers for more options.)

Best GTD Application: Pen and Paper

We asked for your favorite GTD apps, but the nominations made it apparent that an overwhelming number of you are still rocking GTD with the tried-and-true pen and paper. Whether we’re talking the Hipster PDA, a Moleskine, or just an old-school notebook to-do list, pen and paper is still in style when you’re ready to get things done. (If you think a software alternative might better suit your needs, check back with the Five Best GTD Applications for more options.)

Best DVD Ripping Tool: DVD Shrink (Windows)

Despite the fact that the freeware DVD Shrink (download) hasn’t been in active development for years, this freeware decrypter, ripper, and compressor is still a favorite all-in-one stop for ripping and backing up DVDs. Its compression feature is what sets DVD Shrink apart, compressing 8GB dual-layer DVDs down to 4GB sizes that will fit on standard, single-layer DVD-Rs (i.e., the type of DVD most consumers can burn to). It’s even inspired us to write our very own DVD Shrink helper application, DVD Rip, which turns the already simple DVD Shrink process into a one-click ripping affair. (See the Hive Five Best DVD Ripping Tools for more options.)

Best Contact Management Application: Address Book (Mac OS X)

Most folks who own a Mac look no further for a contact manager than Apple’s Address Book. That’s because Address Book is easy to use, it integrates seamlessly with practically every other application on the Mac, and it comes free with your computer. Windows users who wish they had a similar built-in contacts solution may want to try out Vista’s new Windows Contacts application, which has a similar feel and comes free with Vista. (See the Hive Five Best Contact Management Applications for more options.)

Best Text Editor: Notepad++ (Windows)

Notepad++ is the go-to text editor for many Windows users looking for something better than Notepad. It handles most of the advanced features of the rest, like syntax highlighting, code folding, and macros, but unlike most of the other GUI-based text editors featured, Notepad++ is completely free and open source. It may not be as sexy off-the-bat as other GUI editors, but it’s fully customizable, so you’re only limited by your time and imagination. As for its chops as a text editor, it’s huge following speaks for itself. (See the Hive Five Best Text Editors for more options.)

Best Online File Sharing Service: MediaFire

Users love unlimited storage, and MediaFire (original post) offers just that. The service is free, offers unlimited disk space, and requires no sign-up to use any of the site’s features. The files you upload, however, can only be up to 100MB in size. (See the Hive Five Best Online File Sharing Services for more options.)

Best RSS Newsreader: Google Reader

Ever since Google launched the updated Google Reader toward the end of 2006, users have flocked to it for its impressive speed and usability. The most obvious benefit of an online reader like Google Reader is that no matter whose computer you’re using, you can access your feeds from the same interface, with the same items read, unread, starred, and tagged, as long as you’ve got a browser handy. Aside from that, Google Reader really gains loyalty with its robust keyboard shortcuts, search, and tagging features. If you’re using Google Reader but you haven’t yet taken advantage of all it has to offer, it might be time you got good with Google Reader. (See the Hive Five Best RSS Newsreaders for more options.)

Best Application Launcher: Launchy (Windows)

Launchy is best known for its lightning-fast indexing and searching. In its youth it was an application and document launcher only, but it now sports more interesting features and plug-ins, integrating with your bookmarks, the command line, and more. Some users still prefer Launchy 1.25′s lighter footprint, but it doesn’t seem to throw off their love of Launchy. If you’re a dedicated Launchy fan but you’re only using it for app launching, check out how you can take Launchy beyond application launching. (See the Hive Five Best Application Launchers for more options.)

Best Start Page: iGoogle

Once a very limited, bare bones collection of links, iGoogle has grown into a fully customizable dashboard of tabs and web widgets. iGoogle can keep you on top of everything from the weather and your Gmail account to your to-dos and RSS feeds. Like any self-respecting start page, you can organize all of your widgets (which it calls gadgets) via drag-and-drop and add new gadgets from an enormous library. (See the Hive Five Best Start Pages for more options.)

Best Antivirus Application: AVG Anti-Virus

The lightweight AVG Free provides protection against the various nasties floating around the internet. Like many of the options in the Hive Five, AVG provides freeware (with limitations) and commercial versions of their software, but most users find AVG Free is all they need—though many users prefer versions prior to the most recent 8.0 release. (See the Hive Five Best Antivirus Applications for more options.)

Best Photo Sharing Site: Flickr

Flickr was originally conceived in 2002 as a video game-screenshot sharing web site, but it quickly blossomed into a full-fledged photo sharing site with a bustling community. The now Yahoo-owned site offers free accounts with limitations placed on photo uploads and other features, while the $25/year Pro account promises unlimited uploads, storage, and sets. Flickr, like many of the others, also recently added video sharing to their repertoire. (See the Five Best Photo Sharing Web Sites for more options.)

Best Personal Finance Tool: Mint

Mint is a web-based personal finance software that’s made a splash over the last year because of its simple setup and easy to use budgeting tools. The service, which is completely free to use, automatically retrieves your latest financial data from your online financial institutions, then analyzes and integrates it with their service. Mint’s many budgeting tools, alerts, and charts help you manage your spending with ease, and it’s also just added investments. It can’t do the most complex of budgeting, but Mint’s a favorite for people who can’t wrap their head around more feature-rich personal finance tools. (See the Hive Five Best Personal Finance Tools for more options.)

Best Desktop Media Player: VLC (All Platforms)

VLC is the cross-platform Swiss Army knife of media players. It’s lightweight, open source, and can play virtually any file—audio or video—that you throw at it. If you’re really into VLC, you can even use it rip DVDs, fix out-of-sync audio and video, and play your ripped DVDs. VLC has no media library tools, but you can create and save playlists. Either way, the slim, no-nonsense player has found a home on countless Windows, Mac, and Linux installs. (See the Hive Five Best Desktop Media Players for more options.)

Best Windows Maintenance Tool: CCleaner

Any application called CCleaner where the first ‘C’ stands for Crap has to be good, right? Okay, maybe not, but this one is, thoroughly cleaning out your web browser, Recycle Bin and temporary files, registry, unnecessary third-party application trash, and oh so much more. Running CCleaner on your system promises to free up space, keep your computer running smoothly, and protect your privacy. It’s also very fast and very easy to use. (See the Hive Five Best Windows Maintenence Tools for more.)

Best Windows Backup Tool: Carbonite

Carbonite is an online backup solution similar to MozyHome. For $50 a year, Carbonite provides unlimited online backup and is another set-it-and-forget-it solution which offers off-site backup to remote servers. The biggest difference between Carbonite and Mozy is the price: Carbonite is $50 per year upfront compared to MozyHome’s $5 per month, which adds up to $60 a year but doesn’t lock you into a year. Carbonite does not offer a free version like MozyHome Free’s 2GBs, but there is a 15-day trial. For more user comparisons, check out our Carbonite vs. Mozy faceoff. (See the Hive Five Best Windows Backup Tools for more options.)

Best File Syncing Tool: Dropbox (All Platforms)

Dropbox is a free, cross-platform syncing app that boasts quick, instantaneous syncs and file versioning through your desktop and their web-based interface. Dropbox just left beta and added Linux support, offering 2GB of storage space for free. Premium accounts will be available if you need more space than the free 2GB default. Currently Dropbox’s biggest drawback is that you can’t define sync folders, so you have to move everything you want to sync to the main Dropbox folder. (See the Hive Five Best File Syncing Tools for more options.)

Best Alternative File Manager: Total Commander

Total Commander features side-by-side file-browsing panes, enhanced file search, built-in FTP, archive management, and file comparing tools. Previously known as Windows Commander, this application stands out for its extensibility, boasting a sizable list of add-ons. Total Commander is available as a month-long demo and costs $38 after that. If you’ve got a PocketPC, you can get the Total Commander goods for free with previously mentioned Total Commander Pocket. (See the Hive Five Best Alternative File Managers for more options.)

Best Note-Taking Tool: Pen and Paper

Despite a multitude of high-tech note-taking tools, the classic pen and paper still holds a special place in many a note-taker’s heart. The low-tech gadgets readers prefer for pen-and-paper notes vary greatly. From classics like the Moleskine or simple notebook to the Hipster PDA or Post-It notes, the dead-tree route is still the place many prefer to take their notes. If paper is your preference, check out how to customize your notebook to take great notes. (See the Hive Five Best Note-Taking Tools for your software options.)

Best To-Do List Manager: Pen and Paper

For hundreds of years prior to the computer, humankind has managed to-dos with a simple pen and paper, and for many it’s still the only way to go. There are countless methods for managing your to-do list on paper, and the beauty of this to-do manager is that it’s completely flexible—you’re only limited by your imagination. With that in mind, a classic, straightforward list with items you can cross off as you go has always been gratifying, and it’s the template that most software to-do lists follow to this day. Photo by Florian. (See the Hive Five Best To-Do List Managers for your best software alternatives.)

Best Desktop Search Application: Windows Search 4

Where file search was once the most useless “feature” built into a Windows XP PC, the new and improved Windows Search 4.0 is a fast, extensive desktop search tool from Microsoft. Windows Search comes baked into the Vista Start menu with Instant Search, but you can also install Windows Search on XP. Windows Search indexes files on your hard drive or remote file share along with emails and attachments. One little known feature that sets Windows Search apart: Support for natural language queries like “Email from Bill Gates sent yesterday.” Trick is, you’ve got to know how to enable it. (See the Hive Five Best Desktop Search Applications for more.)

Best FTP Client: Filezilla

FileZilla is a free, open-source FTP client for Windows, Mac, and Linux. Due to its price tag (or lack thereof), cross-platform support, and ease of use, FileZilla is a go-to option for many users new to FTP. Users stick around because FileZilla is a fast, full-featured (it also has remote file editing), and reliable FTP client in constant development. There’s even a portable version you can toss on your thumb drive to use FileZilla on the go. Finally, if you’re a Windows user you can even use FileZilla to build your own home FTP server. (See the Hive Five Best FTP Clients for more.)

Best Password Manager: KeePass

Desktop application KeePass is a free, open-source password manager with a robust and easy-to-use feature set. KeePass secures your passwords with a single master password and/or a key-file on your computer. KeePass is a Windows application, but an OS X- and Linux-compatible version—called KeePassX—is available with slightly less polish than the Windows counterpart. For those of you who’d like to take your passwords with you, KeePass is available as a portable application and as PocketPC, Symbian, BlackBerry, and PalmOS ports. We’ve covered KeePass a fair amount, including how to get started with KeePass, import your Firefox passwords, and track software licenses. KeePass doesn’t come with built-in browser integration, but you can invoke a global, auto-login keyboard shortcut (Ctrl+Alt+A by default) when KeePass is running in your system tray. (See the Hive Five Best Password Managers for more.)

Best Download Manager: DownThemAll

Firefox extension DownThemAll (dTa) is a powerful download manager with a stable of advanced features to enhance your download experience. As the name suggests, one marquee feature of dTa is the ability to download every image or linked file on a page in one fell swoop; if you don’t want every file, dTa has advanced filtering criteria to help you get exactly what you want. What’s more, dTa can also boost your download speeds up to 400% by splitting files into multi-part downloads. If you’re new to dTa, check out our guide to supercharging your Firefox downloads with DownThemAll. (See the Hive Five Best Download Managers for more.)

Best Calendar Application: Google Calendar

Ever since it launched in April of 2006, Google Calendar has quickly built a reputation as the premier web-based calendar. GCal owes much of its popularity to its anywhere accessibility and for bringing the look and feel of a desktop calendar into the web browser. It’s fast, it’s reliable, and it’s continually improving. Even better: GCal can sync with virtually any desktop calendar. (See the Hive Five Best Calendar Applications for more.)

Best BitTorrent Application: uTorrent

uTorrent‘s first public release came three years ago today, having been developed with one goal in mind: To create a lightweight, efficient BitTorrent client. Once a popular independently developed app, uTorrent is now owned and operated by BitTorrent the company (not to be confused with the protocol). Despite a continued emphasis on keeping the application small, fast, and light, uTorrent is now loaded with features, including a personal favorite, built-in remote control. (See the Hive Five Best BitTorrent Applications for more.)

What You Already Know

In our first look at KeePass, we showed you how to set one master password to securely rule all of your passwords. As long as you remember your master password, the rest are always at your fingertips. We also highlighted how KeePass can auto-generate strong passwords, one of the major strengths of any password management app worth its salt. (You don't have to remember the difficult passwords—just your master password.) You can even run KeePass—and most of the plug-ins below—from your thumb drive, so you can securely carry your passwords with you wherever you go.

That's what we've already shown you. But KeePass isn't perfect; luckily—like Firefox—it's extensible. With the right plug-ins, you can make KeePass integrate more tightly with your browser of choice, automatically back up your database, increase security, and more.

NOTE: KeePass is Windows only, but a port of KeePass—called KeePassX—is available for OS X and Linux. Unfortunately they don't work with the plug-ins below.

Know Your Shortcuts

Before we talk plug-ins, I want to quickly highlight KeePass’s most important keyboard shortcut, which isn’t immediately obvious to new users. As long as KeePass is running, you can invoke the auto-type keyboard shortcut from any application to automatically fill in login information for the web site you’re visiting or other applications (like an instant messaging client) you’re currently viewing. The global auto-type shortcut is Ctrl+Alt+A by default, but you can change it to whatever you want by heading to the Advanced tab of the Options and clicking the Auto-Type button. As long as KeePass is running in your system tray, it will automatically type your login credentials where you need them (just make sure the login box has focus). The auto-type feature can be a touch buggy with certain web sites, but that’s where the plug-ins come in handy.

NOTE: To install most KeePass plug-ins, all you need to do is unzip the download and drag the plug-in files into your KeePass directory. This varies for some plug-ins, though, so be sure to check the included Readme files or other instructions.

Integrate KeePass with Firefox

KeePass works well with Firefox out of the blocks, but it could be better. Let’s take a look at two ways you can improve the way KeePass works with the ‘fox.

If you’ve been using Firefox to manage your passwords up until now, the first thing you’ll want to do is import your Firefox passwords into KeePass. We’ve shown you how to do this before, but a new KeePass plug-in called ClockWork’s Firefox to KeePass Importer was since developed specifically for this purpose. All you need to do is install the Firefox to Keepass Converter plug-in and the KeePass XML Import plug-in. It’s still a multi-step process, but it’s better than the old alternative and the developer has detailed instructions.

The other way you can make KeePass work better with Firefox isn’t necessarily pretty, but it’s incredibly useful. By default the auto-type feature I mentioned above can have a tough time determining whether or not it should type in passwords for anything but the domain you specified in the URL field. For example, if I hit Ctrl+Alt+A to auto-type my login for Lifehacker from our homepage, it’s works perfectly. On the other hand, if I try the same thing from an individual post, auto-type won’t recognize the page and won’t submit my username and password. The Hostname in Title Bar Firefox extension automatically adds the root domain of the site you’re visiting to your Firefox window title so that KeePass can easily recognize and auto-type passwords no matter where you are on a site.

Automatically Launch a Site and Log in From KeePass

If you’re already looking at KeePass entry you want to log in to, you can double-click the URL in KeePass to launch your default browser and navigate to that site. Once you’re there, quickly firing off the Ctrl+Alt+A shortcut should make quick work of filling in the password. Wouldn’t it be easier, though, if KeePass automatically filled in that information for you? With the KeeForm plug-in installed, it can.

After you install this plug-in to the KeePass directory, you also need to paste:

…to the end of the KeePass.ini file. KeeForm works like a charm, and the method it uses is even keylogger safe. Unfortunately there is one major downside: KeeForm supports Internet Explorer only. (I can’t help but think a quick AutoHotkey script could pull off the same functionality in Firefox if anyone’s looking for a small project.)

Integrate KeePass with Internet Explorer

While we’re on the subject of IE, KeePass provides a couple other useful integration plug-ins for those of you forced to use IE because of IT lockdown or those who—*gasp*—like it.

The best one is probably the KeePass Toolbar plug-in, which installs a toolbar in Internet Explorer that allows the two applications to communicate directly. That means any new username and password you type into IE will automatically be added to KeePass (provided an instance of KeePass is running in the background).

Automatically Back Up Your Database

The great thing about KeePass is that you can securely export your database and use it with any installation of KeePass; all you need to remember is your master password. You can manually do this any time you want, but sometimes that’s not enough. (After all, what’s more important to have a good backup plan for than your passwords?) Luckily there are a couple of different backup plug-ins to ensure you never lose your passwords: Another Backup Plugin and DB_Backup. I prefer DB_Backup, which automatically creates a new backup at a destination of your choice whenever you save a new password to KeePass.

Boost Your KeePass Security with an On-Screen Keyboard

If you’re using KeePass to begin with, chances are you’ve got an eye for privacy and data security. When you use KeePass, all of your important passwords are encrypted in your database; that means you never have to enter them manually anywhere, which also means keyloggers can have a tough time grabbing those passwords. On the other hand, you have one master password, and you have to type that in to access any of your other passwords. If you’re feeling really paranoid about keyloggers, you could try the On-Screen Keyboard plug-in, which allows you to enter your password using your mouse and an on-screen keyboard. (If you’re looking something similar to put on your thumb drive, check out previously mentioned Neo’s SafeKeys.) After you install this plug-in, you may need to enable it in KeePass under Tools -> Plug-ins. Some keyloggers will still take screenshots whenever you click your mouse, so it's not a foolproof solution, but it's still not a bad option to have, especially if you're running KeePass on a public computer off your thumb drive.

Sync Your Passwords

Probably the most exciting KeePass plug-in is KeePassSync, a tool that synchronizes your KeePass database between multiple computers over the internet. This feature is sort of the holy grail for an app like KeePass, but unfortunately it’s only available for KeePass 2, which is currently in alpha. I’d normally throw caution to the wind and go for it anyway, but the developers stress that KeePass 2 alpha is unstable, and subsequent releases could lose all of your passwords. That’s enough to throw me off a cool plug-in (barely), but this is one huge development to watch out for in the future of KeePass that should also increase your confidence in the direction that this free, open-source application is headed.

UPDATE: As ian320 pointed out, setting up your own KeePass password sync is a no-brainer with previously mentioned file sync applications like Dropbox or any of the other best file syncing tools.

KeePass is an incredible tool for managing your passwords, and if you haven’t already found a favorite password manager, I strongly recommend giving it a try. If you’re already using KeePass, let’s hear more about your favorite plug-ins and tricks in the comments.

Adam Pash is a senior editor for Lifehacker who believes password management shouldn’t take 30% of your brain’s memorization capacity. His special feature Hack Attack appears every Tuesday on Lifehacker. Subscribe to the Hack Attack RSS feed to get new installments in your newsreader.

RepairPal [Official Site]

Here’s what VISA says should happen when you present an unsigned card:

1) The merchant will ask for your government ID.
2) You will be asked to sign the card. If you sign it, the signature on the card will be compared to the signature on the government ID. If you refuse, the card will not be accepted.

Here’s VISA’s official statement on “See ID”:

Some customers write “See ID” or “Ask for ID” in the signature panel, thinking that this is a deterrent against fraud or forgery; that is, if their signature is not on the card, a fraudster will not be able to forge it. In reality, criminals don’t take the time to practice signatures: they use cards as quickly as possible after a theft and prior to the accounts being blocked. They are actually counting on you not to look at the back of the card and compare signatures—they may even have access to counterfeit identification with a signature in their own handwriting. “See ID” or “Ask for ID” is not a valid substitute for a signature. The customer must sign the card in your presence, as stated above.

Most merchants don't follow this policy, but some (most notoriously— the U.S. Postal Service), are quite strict.

2) The Maximum Liability For Unauthorized Use Of A Credit Card* Is $50 According To Federal Law
The Fair Credit Billing Act protects you from suffering damages due to unauthorized use of your credit card. If you report a lost or stolen card before anyone uses it, you are not responsible for any charges. If you do not report it before an unauthorized use you are liable for a maximum of $50.

(*Credit cards only. Debit cards and ATM cards are covered under the Electronic Fund Transfer Act, and your liability depends on how quickly you report the loss. Unlike credit cards, debit and ATM cards can have unlimited liability in certain circumstances.)

3) Merchants Cannot Require You To Present ID, Unless Your Card Is Unsigned
Some consumers enjoy it when a clerk asks to see their ID. Others do not. In some states, it’s actually illegal for a store to record any additional information (such as an address or drivers license number) as a condition of processing a credit card transaction (unless the address is needed for shipping, of course.) For some reason this is always a hotly debated topic, so we’ll go right to VISA for the answer:

Although Visa rules do not preclude merchants from asking for cardholder ID, merchants cannot make an ID a condition of acceptance. Therefore, merchants cannot refuse to complete a purchase transaction because a cardholder refuses to provide ID. Visa believes merchants should not ask for ID as part of their regular card acceptance procedures. Laws in several states also make it illegal for merchants to write a cardholder’s personal information, such as an address or phone number, on a sales receipt.

We think that’s pretty clear. Don’t want to show your ID? Don’t.

4) Merchants Cannot Require A Minimum Transaction Amount
It’s a violation of the credit card company’s merchant agreement to refuse a transaction because it is below the “minumum.”

VISA says:

Imposing minimum or maximum purchase amounts in order to accept a Visa card transaction is a violation of the Visa rules.

Mastercard says:

A Merchant must not require, or indicate that it requires, a minimum or maximum Transaction amount to accept a valid and properly presented Card

5) Merchants Cannot Charge A Surcharge For Using A Credit Card, However, They Can Offer A “Cash Discount”
You may have noticed that gas stations are starting to offer a different, higher price for credit cards. This isn't technically allowed— unless it is marketed as a "cash discount." In other words, if you fill up your car and find that you've been charged more than advertised because you paid with a credit card — that's not allowed. If, however, you decide to pay with cash because you saw an advertised "cash discount" to the "regular price" — that's ok. A subtle distinction, but an important one.

(There is something called a “convenience fee” that some institutions are allowed to charge if they do not typically accept credit cards in their normal course of business. The example VISA gives is a utility company where the customary way is to pay by mail or in person. The rules for charging this fee are somewhat complicated and there are loopholes, etc.)

6) Many Credit Cards Have Programs That Will Automatically Double The Manufacturer’s Warranty And Other Excellent Benefits
We get a lot of complaints that can be easily solved by the complainee’s credit card company. We’ve helped readers get laptops replaced out of warranty, and helped them get their money back when Best Buy sold them a box full of bathroom tile instead of a hard drive. Your card may come with extended warranty protection, 90 day accidental damage protection that includes vandalism, rental car insurance, road side assistance, baggage insurance, and return protection. You should be aware of what benefits your credit or debit card offers so that you remember to use them when you need them.

7) Merchants Are Not Allowed To Make You Give Up Your Right To A Chargeback
You might see a receipt that has suspicious-looking waiver stating that you’re agreeing to give up your right to issue a chargeback against the merchant for any reason, no matter what, period. These waivers are the result of some crafty entrepreneurs selling sales-receipt paper with the waiver printed on it, claiming that it helps protect the merchant. It’s all nonsense and it isn’t allowed. If you see it, you should report the merchant.

Merchants Are Not Allowed To Place A Hold For The Estimated Tip
Because so many consumers have instant access to their account information, merchants aren't allowed to place an "authorization" for an estimated tip. For example, if you go to dinner and the bill is $100 and you pay with a credit card, the restaurant might be tempted to "authorize" your card for $120—a 20% tip. If you choose to leave a 15% tip and then check your balance — it will appear that you have been overcharged. This apparently results in lots of angry customers, so the practice has been forbidden in VISA's merchant agreement.

9) If Merchants Suspect You Of Fraud They Are Supposed To Call With A “Code 10″
If a merchant is suspicious of you, they are supposed to make a “Code 10″ call. They are instructed to take your card, call in, and say “I have a Code 10 authorization request.” They will then be asked a series of questions that can be discreetly answered with either yes or no. The merchant bank will then authorize or deny the card. They are not supposed to threaten to call the police or try to detain you. Mastercard says that if the police need to be involved, the “Code 10″ operator will call the police while the clerk waits on hold.

10) If Merchants Break These Rules, You Can Report Them To The Credit Card Company
Here’s Mastercard’s Merchant Violation form. To report merchant violations to VISA, they ask that you report them to the financial institution that issued you your Visa card. You should be able to find the number your on Visa statement or on the back of your card.

(Photo: Maulleigh )

Stabilize Your Camera

Foremost, when photographing fireworks, stability is key. Like butterflies and lightening strikes, fireworks are fickle subjects. An absolutely stable shooting platform is a must. Whether you use a full fledged tripod or you clamp the camera onto a solid fence with a mount, the camera must be steady. Leaning against a tree or trying to grip the camera on the top of a post just won’t cut it. You can further increase the stability of your tripod by hanging weight from the cross brace. Without a stable platform to shoot from you are nearly guaranteed blurry photos. Photo by matter=energy.

Shoot Hands-Free

Right behind stabilizing the camera with a tripod or mount is keeping your hands off the camera while shooting. The most common way to go hands-free is a shutter release cable. Many modern digital cameras have the ability to get triggered by an infrared remote. If you have neither, check the manual of your camera to see if you set a shutter delay. Setting a delay on the shutter will achieve the same vibration-reducing effect as a remote release, but unfortunately it gives you less control over the timing of the exposure since you have to predict the best time to shoot by a few seconds. A cable or remote release is ideal.

Control Your Exposure

The length of the exposure is pivotal to capturing fireworks. Fireworks are large bright distant light sources that “bloom” over the course of several seconds. To capture the the full effect of the firework’s burst it is necessary to use a longer exposure. One to four seconds is usually enough to capture the most beautiful moment of the bursts. Shorter than that and you end up with dark partial bursts, longer and you often end up with an over exposed picture without much focal interest. Photo by mandj98.

Location, Location, Location

Firework displays draw large crowds, so it isn’t always possible to secure a perfect location to shoot from. Arriving early and scoping out the scene is well worth your time. You want to have as clean and unobstructed a view of the skyline as possible. Make sure to reference the skyline through the viewfinder of the camera to make sure you and the camera are seeing things the same way. Shooting from much higher or lower than the rest of the people watching the show can yield interesting results. If possible select a location that is upwind of the fireworks display. Fireworks generate enormous amounts of smoke and if you’re upwind your pictures will have a hazy quality like you were taking them through a fogged up window. The picture at left highlights the effect smoke can have on fireworks photography. Photo by ahisgett.

Don’t Flash The Fireworks

Turn off your flash. If you can’t turn off the flash, black it out with electrical tape. If you’ve ever seen photographs taken from the 78th row at a rock concert with the flash left on, you know exactly how poorly low light long distance flash exposures turn out. If your camera doesn’t have a manual mode that allows you to turn off the flash, try out Landscape mode which almost universally turns off the flash to avoid washing out the foreground in landscape photography. The only exception to the no flash rule is when you want to expose the foreground to highlight objects or people. In the photo above, the young women in the corner are properly exposed because of a flash. Without the flash they would have been dark blurs against the background. Photo by Jon Åslund.

Focus On Infinity

Pre-focus the camera. Don’t let an overzealous auto-focusing system ruin good shots; the brightness of the fireworks and the haze of the smoke confuses many auto focus systems. Set the focus manually on the infinity setting to guarantee that the fireworks bursting on the skyline will be in focus. The only time the focus-to-infinity trick wouldn’t work is if you were close enough to the fireworks explosion to have bigger problems to worry about than blurry pictures! If your camera doesn’t allow manual focus, set it to landscape mode which will have the same effect. Photo by Shermeee.

Cut Out Noise By Controlling ISO

You don’t want the nice crisp black skyline to come out looking like a pixelated camera phone picture. If your camera allows you to do so, set the ISO setting as low as you can. Turn it off auto and set it to 50 or 100 if possible. Left to chance, your camera may well try to shoot the fireworks at 200, 400, or higher. Lower ISO, less noise.

Handy Odds And Ends

Have a small light handy for checking and altering settings on the camera and tripod without having to fumble in the dark. A small red LED key chain flashlight is perfect for this task. Red light is less disruptive to your night vision than white light.

Once you’ve covered the basics of using a tripod, setting your exposure, and so forth the next best thing you can do to ensure capturing that magic moment is to shoot tons and tons of pictures. Make sure your memory cards are cleaned off and ready to go. Remember not to get too carried away early in the event, the grand finale of every fireworks show always yields large and colorful displays. Photo by sfmine79.

With the following tips under your belt, snapping some frame worthy fireworks photos should be no problem at all. If you have more tips to help your fellow readers make the most of their fireworks photography, share them in the comments below.

We’re going to focus on Vista’s small and large features that are missing from XP, separated into three categories: applications, functional, and aesthetic (e.g., transparency is aesthetic, the new start menu search is functional). This list is not exhaustive, but it does cover the features readers feel make Vista worth it.

Bring Vista’s Best New and Improved Apps to XP

First, aside from some of the small operating system improvements we’ll go into below, Vista also bundles up a few new and improved applications worth mentioning.

A Better Explorer: Windows Explorer is one of the most improved applications in Vista, thanks to added features like breadcrumb navigation, better file previews, and more. There are a few add-ons that add some of these better functional adjustments to Explorer, but in general XP users might want to consider replacing XP’s Explorer altogether with something like Xplorer2 (original post) or significantly beefing it up with a tool like QT TabBar (original post). You can also get that saucy breadcrumb navigation alone with Explorer Breadcrumbs (original post).

Encrypt Your Hard Drive: Some versions of Vista—toward the Ultimate end of the scale—come with a new drive encryption software called BitLocker built in. If you’re keen on security and encryption but you want to stick with XP, check out the free, open source TrueCrypt (original post). If you need a little help getting started, check out our guide to encrypting data with TrueCrypt.

Take Quick and Easy Screenshots: PrtScrn has been around forever, but it’s never been the most user-friendly way to get a screenshot. In Vista, Microsoft threw in a screenshot utility called the Snipping Tool. Fact is, if better screenshots are important to you, there are gobs of excellent free screenshot apps available for XP like Screenshot Captor (original post), Clip2Net (original post), and Jing (original post), among many others.

Bring Vista’s Best Functional Features to XP

Task-Switching à la Flip 3D: Vista’s Flip 3D is like Alt-Tab on steroids, displaying full previews of each window as you move through it. To a large extent it’s eye candy, but it can also be really useful in finding the right window when you’re switching from your keyboard. Freeware applications like Shock Aero 3D (original post) and WinFlip bring the same 3D shuffling (and then some, in the case of WinFlip) to to your XP desktop.

Integrated Start Menu Search and Launch: Dubbed Instant Search by Microsoft, this new feature adds a search box to the Windows Start menu for quick searching and launching of documents and applications. If you want to port this same functionality to XP, you can do so with apps like ViStart (original post) or Vista Start Menu (original post)—an extraordinarily beefed up version of the Windows Start menu. Then again, if you're not stuck on the notion of a search-and-launch box built directly into the Start menu, you can't go wrong with Launchy or Google Desktop Search.

Replace the Windows Sidebar: Third-party tools similar to Windows Sidebar and Gadgets pre-dated Vista, so you can trade in desktop real estate for the same functionality with SideSlide (original post) or the Google Desktop Sidebar.

Live Thumbnail Previews of Files: Vista does a nice job of providing thumbnail previews to most image files and even text files, and while XP does have similar functionality, it’s not as advanced as Vista’s. Freeware application Xentient Thumbnails (original post) creates live thumbnails for virtually all images, and if you want a more intimate look at the innards of text and other files without opening them, check out InfoTag Magic (original post).

Speed Up Your System with a Thumb Drive: Windows ReadyBoost speeds up your performance by using a USB thumb drive as system memory, and while nothing beats an actual RAM upgrade, XP users can check out eBoostr (original post) to bring the same functionality to XP.

Streamline Your File Renaming: Microsoft got smart in Vista and changed the behavior when you hit F2 to rename a file, selecting only the name of the file and leaving the extension alone. For a very simple integration of this feature into XP, check out the Better Rename utility. Alternately, if you feel like adding this feature and beefing up Windows Explorer on top of that, you can get the same renaming behavior in Xplorer2 (original post) or QT TabBar (original post).

Taskbar Window Previews: If you like how Vista offers handy little thumbnail previews of windows when you hover over their taskbar item, freeware application Visual Tooltip (original post) brings the same goods to XP.

Give XP that Vista Look

Ultimately, despite all the little feature improvements Vista can throw your way, a new operating system's biggest selling point is often the eye candy—in Vista's case, Aero. There are a lot of tools available that can help you theme XP to look more like Vista, though often users of such applications see mixed results, so proceed at your own risk.

Probably the most comprehensive XP-to-Vista tweaker is the Vista Transformation Pack, which transforms everything from the Start menu and Control Panel to icons.

For a less full-on approach, you could try out skinning utility Uxtheme Patcher with one of several themes from art web site deviantART (like this one or this one) to make XP look and feel more like Vista.

Isn’t There More to It Than That?

There are surely some under-the-hood changes in Vista that you won't get from these simple upgrades, but let's be honest: You care about the features, not the underlying code. And since you can get most of Vista's new features from the comfort of XP—and you can stick to XP as a quick, resource-light alternative to Vista—it looks like most of you won’t be changing horses anytime soon.

Adam Pash is a senior editor for Lifehacker who really only likes XP for its snazzy Media Center improvements. His special feature Hack Attack appears every Tuesday on Lifehacker. Subscribe to the Hack Attack RSS feed to get new installments in your newsreader.

• Windows freeware app LaptopLock integrates with the LaptopLock web site to bring added file security, stolen notifications, and tracking of your stolen laptop. LaptopLock isn’t much of an alarm system, but you may be glad you installed it if your laptop is ever stolen.
• Turn your motion-sensing MacBook into an FTP-backed-up security camera using MacBook alarm system iAlertU (original post).
• Turn your Windows laptop-with-webcam into a motion-sensing security camera with freeware application Yawcam (original post).
• Windows-only Laptop Alarm (original post) locks your computer and monitors for suspicious behavior, sounding an alarm if someone tries using or unplugging your computer, for example.

If you've got a good set of methods for protecting your laptop from thieves—both before and after a theft has taken place—let's hear about it in the comments.